Armagh, Northern Ireland—This year’s Peace Road walk followed a short but very symbolic route between St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral and St. Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral.
Both cathedrals are their faiths’ all-island headquarters in the city.
Passing the North/South Ministerial Building during the Peace Road event on September 25, 2022, the approximately 30 peace walkers stopped briefly for interfaith prayer at this significant institution connected with the Good Friday Agreement. Ambassadors for Peace Maryam Temile, Stanley Nwaneri and Marisa Goldstone read aloud several sections from the World Scripture book.
At the Church of Ireland Cathedral Catríona Thiébault offered a heartfelt prayer at the burial site of the Great Ancient High King of Ireland, Brian Boru. She gave thanks to Heaven for the new peaceful conditions and heartistic unity in Ireland, and she prayed for the end to religious persecution of Unificationists in Japan following the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Following the walk, participants convened at the Armagh City Hotel to have lunch and to hear several presentations.
Professor Omar Escalona, the director of the Advanced Cardiovascular Research Center at Ulster University, offered the keynote address, giving a deep exposition on the theme "Converging Identities of Science and Religion."
He was preceded by Youngil Ely Loew, the leader of Ireland’s chapter of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), an organization that is affiliated with UPF. Mr. Loew gave an introduction to the history and purpose of the Peace Road as envisioned by UPF co-founders Father and Mother Moon.
To conclude, Ambassador for Peace Stanley Nwaneri gave an inspiring summary of his work in the migrant rights and intercultural harmony area.
The emcee, UPF-Ireland Secretary General Colm Ó Cionnaith, gave a roundup of UPF activities in 2022 so far, emphasizing the significance of various UN days for interfaith networking and awareness for peace and intercultural harmony throughout Ireland. Finally he thanked everyone for coming to “the Cathedral City” to participate in the Peace Road 2022 event.
Photographs by Tinko Tinev.